UM Connect Day

Improving language skills with AI

Speaker: Mark Sinnott
Organised by: UM Language Centre
Duration session: 90 minutes

In this interactive and interesting workshop, Mark analyses how AI can help improve our speaking and writing. Themes include:

• personalised learning and feedback
• chatbots as an interactive partner
• turning interesting media content into speech/ writing tasks
• how AI tools can shift learning away from textbooks, and why this is good
• limitations and future directions of AI in language learning

It will be useful to bring a laptop, but a smartphone is acceptable.

Digitalisation in relation to the SDGs

Speaker: Cristina Mancigotti, Mindel van de Laar, Praachi Kumar
Organised by: UNU-MERIT
Duration session: 90 minutes

During this workshop, we will zoom in on the relation of Digitalisation with global development through an interactive session built around the SDGs. Digitalisation impacts our ability to obtain the Sustainable Development Goals, but is also itself influenced by the developments around the Sustainable Development goals. Specifically due to the digital divide, the interrelatedness is not always positive. Becoming aware of the (hidden) consequences of using technology is essential to understand how we can contribute better to sustainable and inclusive growth.

Leadership and Technology in the Era of the Climate Crisis

Speaker: André Dellevoet
Organised by: Maastricht School of Management (MSM)
Duration session: 90 minutes

In this workshop we will explore three critical issues regarding climate change, such as the reduction of carbon emissions, and look at the latest technological developments and innovations that may be able to offer effective and sustainable solutions.

We will then continue to identify different types of leadership, ranging from big tech CEO’s to leaders of non-profits, and the way they look at these solutions. Some believe that technology will solve everything and advocate for as little policies and regulation as possible, while others emphasize the latter as a prerequisite before adopting such technologies. 

The workshop will be highly interactive. After a short presentation in which André Dellevoet sets the scene, the participants will be divided in 2-3 “camps” who each defend a certain vision on the kind of technology and innovations that will solve the 3 climate issues. The position that convinces the participants as “most effective” (by raising your hands) wins the debate.

In the end, we will endeavour to sketch the type of leadership that is required to turn this wining position into reality. This will include possible trade-offs between innovation, technology, profitability and sustainability.

Governing AI in the EU

Speaker: Mindy Duffourc
Organised by: LAW.next
Duration session: 90 minutes

AI-driven technologies present challenges to existing legal frameworks and have ignited a wave of new legislative activity both in the EU and internationally. AI Governance depends largely on how the technology is classified under various laws, based on their technical characteristics, uses, and risk profiles, all of which can vary significantly. This session will explore the various faces of AI: product? service? medical device? technology? companion? and discuss some of the regulatory and liability frameworks that might operate to govern AI in the EU. It incorporates an interactive mock trial to demonstrate the potential difficulties and opportunities for AI governance. You are invited to serve on the Jury!

FUSIO(n) and Litoscope: Digital Tools for Enhanced Societal Research Collaborations and Knowledge Innovations

Speaker: Dr. Serdar Türkeli
Organised by: UNU-MERIT
Duration session: 90 minutes (lecture 30 min, workshop 1 hour)

This lecture and workshop will delve into the complexity of contemporary challenges and the critical role that interdisciplinary and cross-sectoral research collaborations and knowledge innovations play in addressing them efficiently and effectively. The lecture will present the concept of digitalized collaboration as a powerful initiator, highlighting its potential to overcome sectoral, geographical and disciplinary barriers, enhance systemic discoverability of expertise, and accelerate the formation of impactful innovation teams. 

The presentation of the foundational principles behind FUSIO-n platform and Litoscope Academic and Policy tools will be provided to the participants. Participants will be guided through the process of creating their own FUSIO(n) profiles, populating them with their expertise keywords and research interests. We will facilitate exercises in identifying potential collaborators based on shared and/or complementary interests and exploring the platform's features (including Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence) for initiating collaborative projects. The workshop will also include a practical session on utilizing key functionalities of the Litoscope Academic and Policy tools for a specific research topic, allowing participants to experience first-hand how these tools can accelerate their knowledge-based innovations. Attendees will gain a practical understanding of how to leverage FUSIO(n) platform and Litoscope tools to enhance their own collaborative and connected endeavours.

Generative AI: Can it help you to negotiate?

Speaker: Rudolf Müller
Organised by: UMIO
Duration session: 45 minutes

Generative AI (GenAI) is developing rapidly, and successes or failures of applications are in the news almost every day. GenAI has proven its merits in many applications, reaching from software development to knowledge management. But can and should it also be used as a personal assistant when engaging in negotiations? For example, with customers or suppliers? We will shed some light on recent experiments in this direction.

Innovation through the eyes of Linked Data and Artificial Intelligence

Speaker: Luuk Filart (UM alumnus)
Job title: Director Consulting Expert at CGI
Duration session: 45 minutes

In this interactive session, we’ll explore familiar and widespread business challenges – such as fragmented information, inefficient workflows, or unclear decision-making – and examine how they can be addressed in innovative ways using linked data and artificial intelligence (AI). Rather than diving into technical complexities, we’ll take a practical, accessible approach that focuses on real-world applications. Through concrete examples and insights, you’ll discover how these technologies can help connect scattered data, uncover hidden patterns, and support smarter decision-making within your organisation. Whether you’re working in operations, strategy, policy, or IT, this session offers fresh perspectives and tangible ideas for applying innovation in your daily work.

Technology and Innovation applied in Commercial Real Estate

Speaker: Drs. Sebastian Hulshoff MSc, RA (UM alumnus)
Job title: Director Digital Valuation Solutions Europe at CBRE
Duration session: 45 minutes

This lecture explores how emerging technologies and innovative practices are reshaping the world of commercial real estate. From data-driven valuation and predictive analytics to digital platforms, the sector is undergoing a profound transformation.

We will discuss how innovations such as location intelligence, business intelligence, and automated valuation models influencing investment decisions, asset management, and the investor experience. These developments illustrate why professionals in real estate must increasingly act at the intersection of technology, finance, and urban development. Special attention will be given to the role of PropTech, artificial intelligence, and digital collaboration tools as catalysts for efficiency, transparency, and new business models.

By combining practical case studies with insights from recent research, the session aims to inspire students and professionals to see real estate not only as bricks and mortar, but as a field in which technology and innovation play a decisive role in shaping tomorrow’s built environment.

Can we innovate ourselves out of the climate crisis? Perspectives from an impact investor

Speaker: Heleen de Jonge (UM alumna)
Job title: Impact Officer at SHIFT Invest
Duration session: 45 minutes

From carbon capture to AI-powered agriculture, tech is often hailed as our best shot at saving the planet. But is it delivering on the promise? In this session, impact investor Heleen will share an insider’s view on where innovation is truly moving the needle, where it’s falling short, and what it really takes to scale meaningful change. Whether you're a technocrat, an activist, or just curious about the role of venture capital in shaping our future, come ready to challenge assumptions - and maybe leave with a bit more hope (or realism).

How we use Technology and Data at Flink to revolutionise grocery shopping

Speaker: Robin Kiesler (UM alumnus)
Job title: CEO at Flink Netherlands
Duration session: 45 minutes

At Flink we are determined to revolutionise how people buy groceries. In order to compete with established supermarket companies we do things differently. Leveraging data and new technologies is crucial in that. Let's explore together how Flink uses data & tech to improve our customer proposition and operate more efficiently. We are looking forward to an inspiring discussion during this interactive session - let's shape the future of grocery retail together!

The AI Revolution at Work: What’s Changing and What Still Matters?

Speaker: Valentin Calomme (UM alumnus)
Job title: AI & Innovation Lead at Conclusion AI 360
Duration session: 45 minutes

We’ve moved from debating whether AI will change the world to watching it reshape work, creativity, and society in real time. But with so much noise, it’s hard to know what’s truly changing and what still matters. This talk explores the AI revolution through the lens of work: how organisations are adapting, how policy is evolving across regions, and how individuals can respond without losing agency. Drawing on history, global policy trends, and lived experience, we’ll clarify what AI is (and isn’t), why productivity may be the wrong lens, how conformity threatens creativity, and what it means to be a skilled and responsible AI user in a world that’s still being built.

Beyond Boundaries: Turning Journalism into a Sustainable Business Model

Speaker: Moritz Klein (UM alumnus)
Job title: Director Growth & Product at The Pioneer
Duration session: 45 minutes

How can independent journalism thrive in the digital age? This presentation outlines The Pioneer's path to transforming high-quality journalism into a sustainable, digital business model. Discover how innovation, direct reader relationships, and radical transparency are reshaping the future of media.